American Revolution

Events

The French and Indian War

1754 - 1763

Official declaration of war began in 1756, but armed conflict existed since 1754. William Pitt, not yet a Prime Minister, funded the war and eventually won it. They received Canada from France and Florida from Spain. This war made the colonies stronger because it removed their competition and provided room for expansion.

The Sugar Act

April 5,1764

This act made sure that the English sugar was cheaper than the French West Indies product, by heavily enforcing the taxes. This made sure that the colonies didn't have much choice in who they could purchase from.

The Stamp Act

March 22, 1765

It set a small tax on each piece of paper that they used. The colonists viewed this as Britain trying to get money from the colonies for the heavy cost of the French and Indian War. They were angry that they didn't have the same rights as English citizens, to be taxed by their own representatives.

The Townshend Acts

1767 - April, 1770

These acts imposed taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea. Later in April 1770, Parliament removed all the rest except tea. They kept the tax on tea in order to assert the fact that they could tax the colonies.

The Boston Massacre

March 5, 1770

British soldiers let out shots trying to defend a sentry. This drew many colonists to the patriot cause. There was later removal of troops from Boston.

The Boston Tea Party

December 16, 1773

Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty threw 342 chests of tea overboard. The Coercive acts were passed to punish the colonies.

The Coercive Acts

March 28,1774

These acts prohibited the use of the port of Boston, demanded colonists to house British troops, made British officials immune to criminal prosecution, and restricted Massachusetts's town meetings.

The First Continental Congress

October 26, 1774

A group of delegates from 12 colonies met to discuss resistance against the Coercive Acts. They met again in the Second Continental Congress to create and sign the Declaration of independence.

"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Speech

3/23/1775

Patrick Henry gave his famous speech on the liberty of the colonies, at the Virginia Convention. This convinced the colonies to mobilize troops against the British.

The Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776

The Declaration of Independence is a statement written in the Second Continental Congress. It declared that the thirteen colonies were now independent from Britain, and no longer followed their laws.